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Polanczyk GV
558 Rev Assoc Med Bras 2017; 63(7):557-558
and physicians include temperament characteristics such
as perfectionism, being too demanding of themselves, and
rigid cognitive models such as not allowing error and not
placing oneself in the position of those who need care. In
addition, pressure at work, conflict between family and
patient dedication and career, burnout, and sleep restriction
are important risk factors.8,9
In order to reduce suicide rates globally, it is necessary
to reduce ignorance and stigma about mental disorders.
Recently, the World Health Organization has taken an
important step in this direction. For the first time, the
WHO chose, as a theme for World Health Day (04/07/2017),
a mental health condition: depression. The campaign
slogan, “Let’s Talk,” emphasizes the importance of re-
ducing stigma and depression. Medical doctors, regard-
less of specialty, should be aware of the mental health of
their patients – as well as their own – and suicide risk
should be evaluated whenever indicated. Anti-suicide
strategies need to be part of public health policies, as
well as school and university policies. A change in med-
ical culture – regarding the requirements of training, the
balance between professional and personal life, and the
ways that the profession can affect a doctor’s mental
health – is in order.10 Doctors seeking and offering help
for mental suffering should be culturally accepted and
encouraged. Silence, shame and fear are great obstacles
to psychiatric care that need to be removed.
References
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from:
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young. Am Behav Scient. 2003; 46(9):1269-84.
3. Hawton K, Saunders K, O’Connor R. Self-harm and suicide in adolescents.
Lancet. 2012; 379(9834):2373-82.
4. Ahmedani BK, Simon GE, Stewart C, Beck A, Waitzfelder BE, et al. Health
care contacts in the year before suicide death. J Gen Intern Med. 2014;
29(6):870-7.
5. Schernhammer E, Colditz G. Suicide rates among physicians: a quantita-
tive and gender assessment (meta-analysis). Am J Psychiatry. 2004;
161(12):2295-302.
6. Mata DA, Ramos MA, Bansal N, Khan R, Guille C, Di Angelantonio E, et al.
Prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms among resident physicians:
a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015; 314(22):2373-83.
7. Gold KJ, Sen A, Schwenk TL. Details on suicide among U.S. physicians: data
from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Gen Hosp Psychiatry.
2013; 35(1):45-9.
8. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Physician and medical student
depression and suicide prevention [cited 2017 May 31]. Available from:
suicide-prevention.
9. National Academy of Sciences. Breaking the culture of silence on physician
suicide. 2016.
10. Muller D. Kathryn. N Engl J Med. 2017; 376(12):1101-1103. doi: 10.1056/
NEJMp1615141.